Monday, 8 September 2014

In the case of Nathanial Code, M.O. and victimology alone would have failedto link him to each of the eight murders. But Code left more than gags, ducttape, and bodies with gunshot wounds and slashed throats at the crime scenes;he left his “calling card.” Investigators found this “calling card” or signatureaspect at every crime scene, and thus, were able to link Code to the offenses.

The Signature Aspect

The violent, repetitive offender often exhibits another element of criminalbehavior during the crime–the signature aspect or “calling card.” This criminalconduct is a unique and integral part of the offender’s behavior and goesbeyond the actions needed to commit the crime.

Fantasies of offenders often give birth to violent crime. As offenders broodand daydream, they develop a need to express these violent fantasies. Whenthey are finally acted out, some aspect of each crime demonstrates a unique,personal expression or ritual based on these fantasies. However, committingthe crime does not satisfy the needs of offenders, and this insufficiencycompels them to go beyond the scope of the offense and perform a ritual.When offenders display rituals at the crime scene, they have left theirindividualized “calling card.”

How do crime scenes manifest this “calling card” or signature aspect? Basically,crime scenes reveal peculiar characteristics or unusual offender input thatoccur while the crime is being committed.

For example, a rapist demonstrates his signature by engaging in acts ofdomination, manipulation, or control during the verbal, physical, or sexualphase of the assault. The use of exceptionally vulgar or abusive language,or preparing a script for the victim to repeat, represents a verbal signature.When the rapist prepares a script for a victim, he dictates a particularverbal response from her, such as “Tell me how much you enjoy sex with me,”or “Tell me how good I am.”

The use of excessive physical force shows another aspect of a subject’ssignature. One example of signature sexual behavior involves the offenderwho repeatedly engages in a specific order of sexual activity with differentvictims.

The signature aspect remains a constant and enduring part of each offender.And, unlike the M.O., it never changes. However, signature aspects may evolve,such as in the case of a lust murderer who performs greater postmortem mutilationas he progresses from crime to crime. Elements of the original ritual becomemore fully developed. In addition, the signature does not always show upat every crime scene because of unexpected contingencies, such as interruptionsor an unexpected victim response.

The investigator may not always be able to identify signature aspects. Violentoffenses often involve high-risk victims or decomposition of the body, whichcomplicates recognizing the signature aspects of an offender.

Modus Operandi Or Signature Aspect?

The following scenarios are fictitious accounts. They are used to show thedifference between a M.O. and a signature aspect.

A rapist enters a residence and takes a woman and her husband captive. Theoffender orders the husband to lie face down on the floor and then placesa cup and saucer on his back. He tells the husband, “If I hear the cup moveor hit the floor, your wife dies.” The offender then takes the wife intothe next room and rapes her.